Assessment of the effects of endocrine disrupting substances in the Canadian environment

Endocrine disrupters are a complex issue that continues to evolve. From a g overnment perspective, the issue of endocrine disruptors is complicated by the inclusion of several related issues, making it difficult to deal with i n an effective manner. The sub-issues probably need to be dealt with throug h different regulatory mechanisms. The endocrine disrupter issues can be di vided into three main categories: a) issues associated with subtle response s to compounds that are persistent, lipophilic and capable of biomagnificat ion; b) issues associated primarily with non-persistent and relatively hydr ophilic substances in industrial and municipal effluents; and c) issues ass ociated with screening existing and new chemicals for their capability of i nteracting with the endocrine system in an adverse manner. This paper discu sses options for dealing with chemicals found in complex mixtures such as p ulp mill effluents, sewage effluents and in-use agricultural chemicals. Whe n studies documented potential concerns about the potential for pulp mill e ffluents to cause reproductive and endocrine changes in fish, the Governmen t of Canada developed an Environmental Effects Monitoring program as part o f the new regulatory package. The EEM program is designed to provide inform ation on whether effects are present in the environment when industry compl ies with their regulated discharge requirements. Endocrine disrupters have the potential to cause environmental effects with other regulated effluents , and an EEM-type of approach would be capable of identifying situations wh ere effects are present and need to be dealt with.